Interview with Sean and Zander

Interview by: Desire G.

With all the sounds buzzing in the smog/band filled air of Los Angeles, that of Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss is a breath of fresh air. The veteran musicians who have been key players in influential bands like Throwrag, Circle Jerks, and Thelonious Monster have teamed up to create what is simply known as Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss.

Tonight Sean and Zander, who have been known to frequent the stages of DTLAs finest dive bars, are about to play the second night in their eight night residency at Bar 107. Walking through the key shaped doorway, past the bar and gigantic white horse with tube socks, I make my way to the small stage in a dimly lit back room. Looking around in the audience I can see Johnny "2 Bags" Wickersham of Social Distortion, Todd Sender of Jewcocks and Calixto Hernandez of Barrio Tiger lining the crowd. Their way of spinning a traditional sound with non tradional themes is a much needed offset to the bands littering the stages of the once revered venues on whats left of the Hollywood Strip.  I was lucky to share a few words with them after their set.

How did you meet?
Sean Wheeler: I met Zander when Throwrag was touring with the Circle Jerks about 5 years ago.
Zander Schloss: He was my Idol ( Zander chuckles) He really was! I mean, don't know if I want to get into the personal aspects of it, but I was in great admiration of Sean on that tour. He's a performer and an amazing front man.

How did you two start playing together?
Sean: We were sharing a room on tour , and I was working on a solo record. Zander was pretty much playing on all the tracks and through that we started writing songs on our own. Then someone asked me to play a show and at the time, I didn't think Zander would be into it. He was in New York playing a festival with Circle Jerks, but he said "Yeah, I'd love to". So Zander, myself and two other guys started rehearsing as a four piece. I realized immediately that I really only needed Zander. He is so good he could play all the parts. The other guys were cool but seemed unnecessary.
Zander:They were stealing my parts! (he laughs)  Then they went to the bathroom, Sean gave me this look and I looked back at him and we spoke to each other through telepathy Like "Yeah, we should be a duo."  So we did the show as a duo and called ourselves Wizards, Warlock, and Wheeler.

The two continue banter about who is better at what they do. Clearly the chemistry and respect for one another is wildly apparent.


 How long have you been playing together?
Sean: I think its over two years..Its crazy... it's going fast.
Zander: It's been over two years. We made a five song ep and we sold 1,500 of those before we made a full length record, it's only been out for 8 months.


Who produced your last record and is there another record in the works?
Sean: Our producer, Sam Phillips. We trust him, if he tells us something we listen.
Zander: With this guy, we just write the songs and we play as a duo. We let him do whatever he wants because, he preserves the duo-ness of us and adds depth to it that is never invasive of what we do.


As a duo do you find the tour experience to be easier, more intimate even?
Zander: For one thing its really great not to have to deal with four other personalities, we get along great and when we fight we make up quickly. It's easy to get us on the road, set us up, break us down. We love what we are doing, this is the first time in my entire musical carrier that when we go on the road, we write our next album.
Sean: We also can say "Hey! Let's go to the giant fucking crater in New Mexico!" because there is only two of us and we like that kind of stuff.
Zander: We saw Orca whales in Olympia, Washington.


Live you guys put on one hell of a show..
Zander: I like that Sean has no filter. He says what ever is on his mind.
Sean: I'm supposed to talk alot because Zander plays a 12-string with an array of different capo positions, and it goes out of tune alot. So thats my role.. but then I just keep going... but sometimes it's even too much even for me.
(Zander laughs)


What you do in this project is a big step away from what you do with Throw Rag, Circle Jerks and Thelonious Monster. Was that something that came about organically or was it a conscious decision?
Zander: The stuff that I grew up with, was so close to what Sean was thinking about.  I've been through a musical journey in my life from Country and Bluegrass, to formal Jazz training ,to a Funk band in Compton when I first moved to LA, to the circle jerks and did the punk thing. I just want to be authentic as I can possibly be, and the songs that we write, and the way that I'm playing now is the kind of shit I heard when I was a kid and said "I want to do that."

What kind of music do you gravitate towards?
Zander: We're both total music lovers, we appreciate the craft in any form. Sean, in his heart is a soul man and a reggae guy. I am all over the map as far as what I like. When I heard Sean crooning and singing melodies, I knew he had really deep pockets as far as his influences were concerned. I love punk rock, I'm a punk rock veteran, but for my money it's not the kind of music that I listen to for my own enjoyment and to relax. I like good singing, good melodies and I love good lyrics.  I love Sam Cooke and Sean's voice, to me, is reminiscent of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and on the country tip, Hank William Sr.


Are there any songs in particular you enjoy performing more than others?
Zander: There are some songs we don't enjoy playing!
(Sean lets out a loud laugh)
Sean:  HA! Halfway through a song tonight,I thought " You know Sean, don't treat this song like a fucking job." It's easy when you don't like something and you start being negative. I was trying to make myself remain positive. "Brothers and Sisters" is a good one, and I really like the "Second and Hill" song, its probably the most precious song we have. I was talking to Excene recently who told me it's good to have a simple clear message of truth and beauty. The new ones I'm really enjoying because they are new to me.

Why do you do what you do?
Zander: I think that it's important for people to hear music and have music in their lives. We love music so much, we're so stupid we haven't gotten scared or smart enough to get out of it . I think we're on the ground floor of a musical renaissance and only the people who love it and are passionate enough to do it for just the love of it are going to be left and then the music will get better and then the world will get better. We just want to continue to write and play in hopes that someone will benifit and derive the same love and therapy it gives us to play it.

It's calming to know that there are still musicians out there. Ones who truly just love what they are doing with a passion so strong it shines through in every note.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of their album "Walk Thee Invisible" you can get their album on Amazon,Itunes,locally at amoeba or at one of their next shows.  and keep updated with eveything this deliciously daper duo has coming up by checking out their website www.seanandzander.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/SeanWheelerandZanderSchloss

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